Expert: D. Norkus - 7/16/2006

Question
hi Dottie Norkus i am 13 years old and i want to be a pilot so i ask u how long do i have to wait till i can be 1 or can i get 1 at my age please reply

Answer
Brandon

Are you asking about a Private Pilot License?
Or a commercial pilot career?

In the USA, one can solo at age 16 and get their PPL at age 17. However, starting too early isn't a very sound financial decision, even if it is 'fun', unless your parents are very rich as flight training is very expensive! Costs average about $120 per hour and most students pay around $7,000 for their Private.

If one starts long before they can solo or take their PPL checkride, then much money is spent on the same lessons over and over again as they need to relearn and practice skills they have lost between lessons. This can easily double or tripple the cost of the PPL and is why most student take almost 80 hours to finish their training and not the FAA minimum required of 40 hours.

Hence, the faster you do the curriculum, the less money the PPL will cost you. The longer you take, the more it costs you. Drawing lessons out over months (or years) only serves to rack up flight training bills while never allowing you to truly progress in your skills as you are constantly relearning what you forget between lessons. I know- it took me 2.5 years and 3 CFIs to get my Private back in 1992. Save up, then fly like a madman and do it in a condensed amount of time. This is especially the way to go if you are interested in a career. That way you are not wasting money that can be better spent later on on advanced ratings or certificates.

I suggest visiting these sites for the basic "411" on becoming a private pilot and what you need to know-

http://www.flightinfo.com

http://flighttraining.aopa.org/learntofly/overview/pilots.cfm

Dottie